Try it yourself and find out - the E46 steering wheel and airbag are probably the easiest to pull out.

Even if the steering wheel fits, I doubt you'll be able to just plug in another airbag with no errors popping up, not to mention losing your steering wheel controls, i assume.

 

It was an easy swap. It took me about 10 minutes to take out wheel/airbag from my car and swap this one in. Everything works the same. No errors, it is all plug and play. Wheel is from a 2004 E53 X5 4.4.

The one I had was a ZHP alcantara sport wheel, but the alcantara was so bad I peeled it all off, which left the wheel very skinny. I plan on re-wrapping that one and using it, but for now this wheel will do. It is thick as hell, so it feels good while driving. I will probly re-paint that trim and it will look nice.

 

Ill probly re-paint that trim and itll look nice.

I bought that same trim piece from ECS Tuning for about $50 for my X5. It was factory BMW.

 

The center spoke looks a bit too chunky for my tastes, but at least it has handgrips vs. the stock sport wheel's lack of them. And nice job blazing a trail for the rest of us! Well done. 👍

 

It will do for now. Now i can enjoy the sport feel while i get to work on my ZHP wheel. Like i said i had to peel off all the worn and torn alcantara and foam and that left the wheel bare and skinny. This sport X5 wheel feels amazing though! But this baby will be back on soon enough.

 

I do like the position of the buttons better than those on my 3-Spoke wheel. I find I have to reach for the button to change the CD track or a tuned station.

 

Just as a little update i bought a new trim piece as overboost suggested and i wrapped it in the chinese leather/suede/tri cover. Heres what im rocking with:

 

From the looks of it I'm assuming a standard E46 airbag wouldn't fit?

 

I’ve done it too, easy plug and play, but I used the M sport wheel with thinner centre spoke.

 

Nice thats an E83 M-Sport wheel. I have one as well put away. Those are nice! I decided to keep the E46 M3 wheel on the E46

 

Correct indeed it’s an E83! Blame the beers lol to be fair I do miss the original wheel it’s just so far gone beyond repair it will cost more to refurb then to buy another

 

E83 / e53 vs E46 steering wheel : Thickness and diameter are the same ?

 

Diameter the same & Thickness possibly the same but I cannot tell due to my E46 wheel being so worn

I’ll get the string of truth out in the morning to confirm

 

you guys worried about the airbags being different? i was watching a video on airbag size and inflator speed being bespoke to the car it was designed for?

 

The e53 never came with an "M-Sportpaket", "Sportpaket" only, so no ///M-Logos on the Sports-Steeringwheel or anywhere else on the car. I have this Steeringwheel in my e53 3.0d and in my e46's It's the M-Sport wheel. Musthave!
Steeringwheels is serious Business

I like the design of both, although the e46/M steeringwheel suits me best and is just an awesome near perfect steeringwheel to me.

As the e46 M-steeringwheel is interchangable w. the e53 X5 the revers operation should be possible too. Many e53 owners have refitted the e46 M-Wheel.

i think you just found out a more budget and very good looking option to upgrade on an e46 steeringwheel!

👊

 

100% The cheapest route yet not the best as I do miss the old wheel ever so slightly lol

 

I like.this one.too (X3 E83 facelift )

 

View attachment 975656
I like.this one.too (X3 E83 facelift )

i have this one and the nice thing is it is heated. i haven’t installed it yet because i’m afraid the differences in airbag might be dangerous

 

Lot of X3 guy's install E46 steering too , but I don't know if iairbag is a problem .

 

A heated setup would be ideal thats for sure! But regarding the airbag the difference in weight is possibly 300kg between the X3 and E46 models that’s not including Estates so I’d say a E46 330d Estate fully loaded with a car full of people maybe a X3 in weight

Given that conclusion knowing they use the same dual pin I think it would be totally safe as like mentioned E53/E83 owners swap out for E46 steering wheels? Don’t hold me to it but I pray I’ll be safe in a pile up 😅